Obamacare 2015: Advocacy groups encourage enrollment

Aurora Harris of Houston's Lesbian Health Initiative speaks about the Affordable Care Act during a news conference at Houston Community College on Wednesday. With the second Affordable Care Act marketplace now open, the advocacy groups including Young Invincibles and the TexPIRG Education Fund will offer tips to students to help them find good health insurance that won't break the bank. less

Aurora Harris of Houston's Lesbian Health Initiative speaks about the Affordable Care Act during a news conference at Houston Community College on Wednesday. With the second Affordable Care Act marketplace now ... more

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

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Wendy Vazquez, a University of Houston-Downtown student, speaks about the Affordable Care Act during a news conference at Houston Community College on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, in Houston. With the second Affordable Care Act marketplace now open, the advocacy groups including Young Invincibles and the TexPIRG Education Fund will offer tips to students to help them find good health insurance that won't break the bank. less

Wendy Vazquez, a University of Houston-Downtown student, speaks about the Affordable Care Act during a news conference at Houston Community College on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, in Houston. With the second ... more

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

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Jose Sanchez of the Young Invincibles speaks about the Affordable Care Act during a news conference at Houston Community College on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, in Houston. With the second Affordable Care Act marketplace now open, the advocacy groups including Young Invincibles and the TexPIRG Education Fund will offer tips to students to help them find good health insurance that won't break the bank. less

Jose Sanchez of the Young Invincibles speaks about the Affordable Care Act during a news conference at Houston Community College on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, in Houston. With the second Affordable Care Act ... more

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

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Liz James of Houston's Lesbian Health Initiative speaks about the Affordable Care Act during a news conference at Houston Community College on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, in Houston. With the second Affordable Care Act marketplace now open, the advocacy groups including Young Invincibles and the TexPIRG Education Fund will offer tips to students to help them find good health insurance that won't break the bank. less

Liz James of Houston's Lesbian Health Initiative speaks about the Affordable Care Act during a news conference at Houston Community College on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014, in Houston. With the second Affordable ... more

Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle

Obamacare 2015: Advocacy groups encourage enrollment

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Organizers and leaders of national, state and local groups representing young adults and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities gathered Wednesday at Houston Community College's central campus to urge their uninsured constituents to enroll in health coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

During a news conference, members of nonprofit organizations, including the national health insurance advocacy group Young Invincibles, TexPIRG Education Fund and Houston's Lesbian Health Initiative, stood near a busy intersection and explained the importance of having insurance. Several people walked by as the organizers spoke. No one stopped to listen.

The event was among several recently held in the Houston area to educate people about the 2010 health care law and its federally mandated insurance marketplace, which began enrolling people for 2015 coverage last month.

Those renewing 2014 coverage or buying 2015 plans have until Dec. 15 to make selections to ensure coverage begins Jan. 1. Otherwise, the 2015 open enrollment period ends Feb. 15.

"More than 220,000 young Texans enrolled in private health insurance during the first open enrollment period," said Jose Sanchez, acting southern director of Young Invincibles, reading from prepared remarks. "While many young adults can get covered on a parent's health plan until age 26, many young Texans do not have access to a parent or employer's plan they can join."

Meanwhile, a new report released Wednesday by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows the number of uninsured adults nationwide fell by an estimated 10.6 million from September 2013 to September 2014. It finds the percentage of those without insurance dropped from 17.7 percent to 12.4 percent because millions of previously uninsured people enrolled in health insurance marketplace plans and Medicaid.

The report indicates uninsured adults ages 18 to 64 gained coverage across all age, gender, race and ethnicity groups. The strongest gains were among those more likely to be uninsured — young adults and Hispanics.

Houstonian Aurora Harris, 26, is one of those young people who bought a 2014 insurance plan. With $189 monthly premiums, Harris' coverage might seem fairly expensive. But her plan saves her money on co-pays. Harris said her coverage had saved her at least $1,600 in health care costs this year.

Harris spoke during Wednesday's news conference in Houston.

"I wouldn't have been able to pay that," said Harris, a senior outreach navigator for Houston's Lesbian Health Initiative. "If it wasn't for (the Affordable Care Act), I wouldn't be standing here, able to breathe easier, knowing I have insurance."

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